Renew My Church
FOSTERING MISSION VITALITY
INSPIRING DISCIPLESHIP
WE WILL MAKE THE MISSION OF CHRIST OUR OWN—FOR OUR TIME.
Archbishop Cupich has called every Chicagoland Catholic to join him in a multi-year initiative to revitalize our church in the Archdiocese and ensure its growth for generations to come. Together through Renew My Church, we will create vital, vibrant, life-giving, Catholic communities across the Archdiocese. We will inspire disciples to accompany all members of our family of faith to seize this moment.
Visit the Archdiocese's website for a complete list of resources and to learn more about this effort.
WHAT IS RENEW MY CHURCH?
It is a journey that is both spiritual and structural. We have been blessed at Saint Clement with a vibrant and thriving community and do not have any structural changes at this time. However, our call to spiritual renewal is right here and right now!
Our strategy for parish renewal is similar to what we laid out with The Clement Way in 2021, and includes:
SOFT ENTRY POINTS outside of the context of the Mass where those seeking can encounter God and experience the joy of Christian community
RADICAL HOSPITALITY WITHIN A SPIRITUAL FAMILY that beckons each of us into a community of unconditional love and authentic caring, with a particular heart for those who are struggling, lost, or alone
VIBRANT AND TRANSFORMATIVE EUCHARISTIC LITURGIES that lift up our hearts and souls to celebrate the Good News and participate in “a life-changing communion with Christ in the Eucharist”
READINESS-BASED FORMATION programs and family catechesis that provide roadmaps for faith engagement and spiritual growth for all children and adults entrusted to parish care
PASTORAL CARE THAT REACHES OUTWARD IN LOVE to share our faith and serve those in need both near and far
PARISH GROUPINGS
All parishes across the Archdiocese have been a part of "groupings" for pastoral planning. Within a grouping, parishes have come together to collaborate, gather information, and evaluate options for the pastoral needs of all within the grouping.
Our Lakeview-Lincoln Park grouping consists of:
St. Alphonsus—Chicago (parish and school)
St. Bonaventure Oratory
Cabrini Shrine
Saint Clement (parish and school)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel—Chicago (parish and school)
In June 2022, the following decisions have been made (click to read the full update here):
St. Alphonsus, St. Clement, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parishes and their schools will remain in their current structure.
The Cabrini Shrine will continue in its current structure.
A small group of community members will continue to discern the best future for St. Bonaventure Oratory and submit a proposal to the archdiocese by Labor Day, with a decision expected in early October.
In the near future, the west portion of the St. Bonaventure property, which houses the Vicariate II offices and the former Cardinal Bernardin School, will be marketed for sale.
Cardinal Cupich affirms the grouping team’s vision that continued work, especially in the area of evangelization and re-evangelization of parishioners, will be necessary to reground people in their discipleship. We know that only disciples can invite and inspire other disciples.
Pope Francis calls us to not only be disciples of Jesus, but Missionary Disciples who share the Good News of Jesus in the world around us, a world yearning to hear and know Jesus.
The Renew My Church imperative of making disciples will continue to be the mission into the decades to come.
Next Steps (from June 2022 update):
The parish communities will continue to the next phase of renewal, focusing on strong evangelization to the world around us. Specifically, with the support of the Parish Vitality Coordinator, Sara Pekar, and the Evangelization team of the Archdiocese, your parishes will continue to build the new reality, focused on deepening discipleship, and supporting disciples in becoming missionary disciples for the work of evangelization.
The renewal process calls us to become a stronger, more sustainable presence for the future, capable of reaching more people by sharing our discipleship in Jesus Christ, building communities with one another and inspiring witness in the world around us.
RENEWAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR CALL
The Archdiocese has changed in significant ways over the past several decades. Demographics have shifted dramatically, some buildings are in disrepair and we have fewer priests to pastor. Yet, at the same time there is new life as immigrants continue to make Chicagoland their home; as we ordain enthusiastic and energetic new priests; and as we live in the historic time when Pope Francis is leading us to live in the joy of the Gospel.
Thus, we should not be afraid to face our challenges, but embrace them to see this moment as a graced opportunity to chart new ways to live our our mission more fully.
WE ARE CALLED TO MAKE ALL THINGS NEW IN CHRIST
Christ called St. Francis of Assisi to "Rebuild My Church." As we are reminded by the image of the San Damiano Cross, Christ called Francis to, "Go, rebuild my church."
Francis came to understand that Christ was calling him to renew the church and not just rebuild a structure. That is the task before us.
Pope Francis has called us to dream big for the church. "I dream of a 'missionary option,' that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything so that the church's customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today's world rather than for her self-preservation."
Archbishop Cupich is calling us to renew the church in Chicago. "Just as our ancestors responded in faith to their dreams and built the church we have today, it is our time to dream big and to take up this work."
REFLECTIONS FROM OUR PARISH FAMILY
We invite you to read reflections from members of our parish family on our call to renewal here.